Electric locomotive or the like.



J. H. AMES.-

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE 0R THE LIKE. APPLIUATIQ FILED' JULY 1s, 191s.

1,113,923. .Patented 0@t.13,'1914.

i. f--f E Q A l@ @pm/*1B J. HVi AMES.' ELECTRIG LOGOMOTIVE 0R THE LIKE.

HPLIUA'HMLULED JULY 1a, 191s. Y

'l- Y Y. ilatented OC). 13, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ii m 1 il:

J. H. AMES.

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE 0R THE LIKE.

l I APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1913. 11,113,923. s 131116111911001.1111914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED srA'rEs PATENT eEErcE.4A

JOSEPH H. AMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC LOOOMOTIVE OR THE LIKE.

Application tiled July 18, 1913. `Serial1\Io.779,806.,

improvements in the arrangement and construction of electric locomotivesand the like.

The invention has particular reference to certainimprovements in thattype of locomotive or self-propelled lvehicle which is self-contained tethe extent that it carries vthe prime movers by means of which the,

electric current is generated in the first instance. In this class ofvehicle or locomotive, some form of prime mover, such, for example, asan internal combustion engine, serves to drive one or more electricgenerators, which in turn supply the power current to the motors mountedin the trucks and for any other purpose desired. y

-I am aware of the fact that self-propelled vehicles of the abovegeneral type'have heretofore been designed. However, as far as I amaware, such vehicles or locomotives have been of limited capacity orpower, so that their usefulness has been restricted to cer` taincomparatively narrow 'fields of work. These'limitations have beenimposed largely by reason of the weight and size of the prime movers, ithaving been impossible in previous arraiigements to secure the necessaryY head-room for the prime mover in combination with the necessaryclearance for the accommodation of the trucks, Aincluding the drivingmotors.

The locomotive of the present invention' is l intended particularly forheavy classes of service, such, for example, as the hauling of throughpassenger -and freight trains. In'

eithe: of these classes of service, it is necessary to develop a largeramount of power continuously for extended periods of time. For example,the locomotive proportioned Vas illustrated in the drawings of thepresent application is intended to develop sixteenliundred horse-powercontinuously and two thousand horse-power for short intervals of time. t

It will be readily appreciated that, as a matter of practicalconstruction, an internal combustion engine or a set of engines to de-Vrvelep. this amount of power, will require a very considerablelhead-rooin. However, as a general' proposition, the generators for thedevelopment of 'this amount of power will not require as much head-roomas the en# gines. I have availed myself of these facts in theconstruction of the present locomotive by mounting the engines in thecentral portion of the structure and between the trucks, while thegenerators are mounted in the end portions of the structure .and abovethe trucks. In this manner, the additional headroem necessary for theengines is readily obtained, and at the samev time a sufficientclearance is allowed for the trucks, includ ing their driving motors.

In addition .tothe obtaining of a construction embodying theadvantageous features Patented ont. 13, i914.

above mentioned, another feature of the invention is to so arrange andconstruct the base portions `of the prime movers and of the generatorsthat these base portions may constitute portions of the under-framing ofthe locomotive itself. In this way the entire structure is thus madeintegral, as it were,

and all of the parts are so interrelated as to secure avmaximum ofrigidity and Strength combined with a minimum of weight and number ofparts. 1 y 1 In this connection, another object of the invention is toso arrange and interrelate the various portions of the frame and'structure' that the pistons and cylinders of the en ne can be readilyremoved for purposes o replacement or repair. It is also intended inthis connection to so arrange the parts that replacements and repairscan beetfectuated by present shop-methods, such, for example,v

'as by the use of the track pit, thereby enabling the locomotive to beassembled or repaired without the necessity of making radical changes inpresent shop methods.

In connection with the above objects, another object is to provide aconstruction in which a pair of twin generating units is used, so thatin caseof the injury or destruction of either one of them, theiremainingunit can be used for the supply of current to Athe end of a division, oruntil the damaged unit can be again brought into service.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of theinvention which consists in the features vof construction and lview ofthe assembled locomotive; Fig. 2

' ward motors being removed from the truck;

Y Lire-rees tical sectionthrouzgh one end of thelocomotive, showingparticularly the relative positions of'the prime mover, generator, andtruck motors; Fig. 4 shows across section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig.3 looking -in the direction of the arrows, the for- Fig. 5 shows a crosssection taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 8, lookingin the direction of thearrows; Fig. 6 shows a cross section takenon the line 6 6 of Fig. 3,looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 7 shows a cross sectiontaken on theline 7--7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the several figures, the car body'` is designated by the numeral 8,and each of the trucks in its entirety is designated by the numeralV 9.The side walls ofthe locomotive body are designated by the numeral 10.As shown particularly in Fig. l, the central portion of the locomotivebody extends down to a point considerably below those portions which areimmediately above the trucks, and as shown in Fig. 2, the prime moversaremounted in this central portion. in the arrangement illustrated, twocomplete generating units are provided, each one comprising an internalcombustion engine driving a generator. Each of the internal combustionengines illustrated is of six cylinder construction, the cylinders beingmounted in pairs 11, although, of course, any other 'suitable primemover construction might be used. r1`hese engines are mounted side byside, each with its six cylinders in a row, and one of the engines isadaptedto drive a generator 12 at one end of the locomotive, while theother engine drives the generator 13 at the other end of the locomotive.It will be noted from an examination of Fig. 1 that the center lines ofthe two generators coincide substantially with the center line of thelocomotive, and it will presently appear that this fact maybe'advantageously made' use of in combination with the feature ofmounting the generators higher up in the locomotive structure than theengines. It is preferred that a motor driven air compresser 14: bemounted at one end ofthe locomotive, while fuel tanks and a suitableheating plant 15 be mounted at the other end thereof, these serving tosupply the necessary air for the air brake system and the necessary heatfor the train, respectively.

Referring, particularly to Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, in the particulararrangement therein illustrated, each truck is provided with two drivingaxles 1G and 17, and with a pilot axle 18. These axles are suitablyjournaled in the truck frame, the driving axles preferably having rigidbearings therein, while `the pilot-axle vis free for a certain amount ofmovement according to irregularities in the track structure, and tofacilitate taking curves. Above each driving axle are mounted thedriving motors 19. Owing to the amount of power to be transmitted 'intoeach driving axle, and for other considerations, it is preferred tomount the driving motors in pa1rs,. one pair serving each driving axle,as `shown particularly in Fig. 3. It may be stated that one advantagefollowing from this arrangement is that the necessary motor power can beobtained with motor structures of less head-room than would be necessarywere the entire motor power for each axle to be provided by a singlemotor. Between the driving. axles of each truck, is mounted a truckbolster 20. This truckbolster is preferably half way between the drivingaxles, although under certain circumstances it might be desirable tohave it closer to the driving axle 16 than' to the axle 17, so as toobtain a slightly more uniform distribution of'` load on all of theaxles, including the pilot axle. It will, however, be seen that it isextremely desii-able for the pilot axle to be movably mounted, by reasonof the fact that it is farther from the truck bolster than -either ofthe driving axles, and by reason of the v factthat the load carried bythe pilot axlev is comparatively small.v It is preferred that a draw-bar21 be connected to the forward end of the truck structure, so that onlyonehalf of the total traction will be delivered through the framing ofthe locomotive itself.

From an examination of Fig. 3, it will be seen that each generator ismounted directly over the motors of one truck, and this fact largelydetermines or fixes the elevation at which the generator must bemounted. This in turn determines orfixes the elevation of the generatorshaft 22. As a matter of de: sign, the major port-ion of la prime moveris mounted above or to one side of the crank shaft thereof. Therefore,if the crank shaft line with the corresponding generator shaft,

the cylinders ofthe. prime mover would extend to a very much greaterheight or elevation than the generator itself. As previously stated, thecentral portion of the locomotive is depressed with respect to its endportions so as to provide the necessary headroom for the engines. yThisfact results in a mounting of the engine crank shafts 23 considerablylower down than the corresponding generator shafts, and, therefore, itis necessary to provide some form of transmission from the one to theother.

It was previously shownthat the two engines or prime movers are mountedside by side, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that it would be necessaryunder any circumstances to provide some form of transmission from eachengine shaft to the corresponding generator of each prime mover were tobe mounted in 1aiaaeae shaft, because the generators are mountedon thecenter line of the structurel 1 have availed myself of the fact that theengine. shafts areolset from` their respective .gener-g particularly inFig. 7, the left-hand engine insaid figure transmits power to thegenerator at the leftshand end of Fig. 2, said power being transmittedin a sidewise direction toward the center line of the car, as well as ina vertical direction, so asl to carry up tothe elevation of thegenerator.. In similar manner the engine at the right-hand side of Fig.7 transmits its power sidcwise and upward to the generator 13 at theother end of the car, so that the respective portions or halves of thetotal power are transmitted upward as well as to the center line of thecar in passing to their respective generator shafts. From the abovediscussion it will be apparent that therel is a certain cofrelation or`combination betweeny those major elements of a locomotive of this typein which the engines are mounted side by side on opposite sides of thecenter line of the structure, while their respective generators aremounted with their shafts ata different elevation from theengine shafts,and on the center line of the Structure.. In.V other words, certain newand desirable results are vobtained in astructure embodying thesearrangements, and these results are peculiarly desirable in a structureof this kind where large head-room is necessary vin one portion of thestructure toaccommodate the heightv mounted on the generator shaft, ortransmitting to the generator shaft. A bracket or standard 27 mountedalongside ofthe engine in a manner presently to be Adescribed carriesthe idler `and the pinion. .lIn the ar rangement illustrated, the pinion1S mounted on a short or stub shaft 2S which transmits` to thel'generator shaft through the mediuml of a flexible Ycoupling or the like29. It will presently be seen that the gearing is mounted lin astructure whichv is rigid with respect to the engine structure, andtherefore this flexible coupling is desirable for the purpose of takingup any inequalities or vibrations-0f the engine structure with respectto the generatorstructure. Of course, any

other suitable form of transmission from' each engine shaft to itsgenerator shaft might be. adapted without in any manner departing yfromthe spiritof my invention.

ItI was ,previously stated that one of the objects of. the invention isto providebase portions 0r supporting structures for theen- Y gine andthe generators, which portions may be integral with or constituteessential por tions of the 4framework of the locomotive as a whole. Bysodoing, the entire structure can be built from a minimum weight` ofmaterial, and atthe same time the parts will beA rigidly joined orrelated together so as to most effectually meet and withstand thevariousstrains and stresses coming upon them.

It was previously shown that the central portions of the car structureare carried down below-the end portions thereof. It is preferred thatthe lower portion of the side of the car be constructed inthe form 'of-truss members or the like 30 and 31, which .extend substantially thedistance between theI body holsters 20a. These truss members vare formedof the same generaleongura- 'tion as the lower portions of the carsides, `and they carry the maj or portion of the load imposed by theengines and generators. The base structure of the engine compriseslessentially an elongated box-like member or the like 32 which is bestillustrated in Figs. 3, 6, and 7. It has a plurality of crosswiseextending webs or the like 33,' the same eX- tending across at pointsbetween the engine cylinders and at points just outside of the endcylinders of each engine. These crosswise extending websserve to supporta central structure 34 on which the pairs of cylinders 11 are mounted,and they also serve as supportsv for the bearings of the crank shafts.The arrangement of these webs will be readily seen from Fig. 6, in whichthe observer is looking toward the web between the left-hand pairs ofcylinders, and in which the observer sees the crankshafts 23.

This box-like supporting member for the engines has its side portionsset against and secured to the truss members 30 and 31. These membersare preferably built up from `vertically extending plates against theedges ofwhich are placed the .angles 35 and the iiange plates 3G.v Theside portions of the box-like lmember are seated between the innervangles and flanges of the truss members,

as .shown particularly in Figs. G and ,7, thereby rigidly locking theboX-like'member tothe trusses. Of course, any suitable form of rivetedor vrother connection maybe used in addition to the seating arrangementillus-l vwhich the gear transmissions arefmounted.

iso

generator for reinforcing the truss members at' those pointsintermediate the body bolsters and the 'ends 'of the aforementioned basemember for the engines. A

"The ybase member or casting' for each y generatorv is designatedl bythe numeral 37.

In general contour, it comprises a hollow box-.likestructure extendingfrom side to side between the truss members andk having the -`websorflanges 3S seated against the truss'inembers and secured thereto.These xwebs preferably seat nicely ybetween the upper and lower anglesfrom which the truss members are '`fconstru'cted, so that the basemember is rigidly mounted and secured between the angles of the trussmembers. It. was previously stated that the crank shafts of the enginesfind bearings in the crosswise extending webs. In order to facilitatethe removal and insertion of the crank shafts, I provide under bearingmembers 39 which seat beneath the webs 33 and are secured to the lowerportions of the base member 32. `By' removing these bearing members 39,the crank shafts, including the pistons of the engines, can be lowered,so as Vto permit inspection of the interiors of the cylinders, and 4soas to permit replacement of the packing ringsY on the pistons, etc.

In order to permit removal of the cylinl ders in pairs, port holesor'the like may be 'Iprovided in the roof portion of the locomotive,said port .holes being normally closed by means of the hatches 40, asshown, for example, in Fig. 6.

In order to` close the lower portion of the box-like member 32, so as toprotect -the crank shafts from dust and the like, Aa pan or casing elmay be mounted and supported beneath that portion of the member 32 whichaccommodatesthe cranks andrank shafts. This arrangement is shownparticularly in Figs. 6 and 7. In like manner a casing l2 maybe providedfor closing in that portion of the 'structure beneath each train ofgears. y

From an examination of the foregoing structures, it will be apparentthat the engines and generators are both supported indirectly throughthe medium of the longitudinal truss members 30 and 31, which-65.members are secured rigidly together and are reinforced throughoutpractically their .dent to the operation ofthe engines themselves willbe taken up by those .portions of 1 the trusses which are secured' to`.the box' member 32, and vwill be-transmitted indirectly through thetruss members to the body holsters. Therefore, the body holstersthemselves will not be subjected directly to M the shocks and arsincident tothe operation ofthe engines, with the result that 'a muchsmoother operating and more durable structure will result. ment is suchthat the total distance through which the strains are transmittedthrough the truss members themselves 'without the assistance orreinforcement of the member 32 is comparatively small, so that thetrusses need not be of excessive size. ,In other words, by securing theside portions of the member 32 directly to the trusses the lat-ter are'reinforced throughout a substantial portion of their length, and in thatportion which is subjected to the greatest bending force, namely, thecentral portion.

I do not limit myself to the features of construction shown in thedrawings and described in the specication,'but I include within thescope of my invention any equivalent arrangements and structuresoperating in equivalent manners to produce equivalent results.

l/Vhen desired the electric connections may be eifectuatcd in suchmanner as to transmit current directly from each generator to thedriving motors of the corresponding truck, so that the distance throughwhich the current will be transmitted may be made very small.Nevertheless, when this is done, interconnections may be providedbetween the two generators, so that in case of the disability of one ofthem, the other may supply current to all of the currents.

Vhere in the specification, and claims I use the term truss or girder, Icontemplate. not only the constructions such as thoseshown in thedrawings, wherein the central portions are of greater depth than the endportions, 4but I also contemplate girders or trusses of various otherforms, including thosev of'` uniform depth, unless otherwise specifiedor limited in the claims.

I claim: A

1.- In an electric vehicle, the combination with a pair of trucks, of aprime mover mounted in the vehicle between the trucks,

Nevertheless, the arrange-4 the `elevationl of the driving shaft of theprime mover being limited by the available l A`prime mover, and anoperative connection 'from the dri-ving shaft o f the prime mover.

to the shaft of the generator.

2. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a pair of trucks,'of aprime mover supported by the vehicle between the trucks, a generatorsupported bythe vehicle at an elevation greater than that of one of thetrucks, and an operative connection from a driving shaft of a primemover to the driving shaft lof the generator. i

3. In an 'electric vehicle, the combination with a. pair oftrucks, of aprime mover supported by the vehicle between the trucks, the lowerportion of the prime mover being mounted below the upper portions of thetrucks, a generator supported by the vehicle 'at an elevation greaterthan that of the trucks, and an operative connection from the drivingshaft of a prime mover to a shaft of the generator.

4. In-an electric vehicle, the combinatie witlra pair of trucks, of apair of prime movers supported by the vehicle on opposite sides of 'thecenter line thereof, a'generator supported by the vehicle at each endthereof, and an Voperative connection from each prime mover 'to agenerator. y j

' 5. In an. electric vehicle, the combination with a pair of trucks, ofa prime mover supported by the vehicle on each side of the center linethereof, a generator supported by the vehicle at each end thereof withits shaft lying on the center line of the vehicle, and an operativeconnection from veach prime mover to a generator'.

6. In an electric vehicle, the combination witlra pair of trucks, of apair of prime movers supported by the vehicle between thetrucks thereofand with one prime mover lying on each side of the center line of thevehicle, a generator supported by the vehicle .movers supported by thevehicle between the trucks, one prime mover lying on each side of thecenter line of the vehicle and with its lower portion below the upperportion of the trucks, a generator supported by the vehicle at each endthereof with its shaftl lying on the center line of the vehicle, and anoperative connection from each prime L to a generator.

n an electric vehicle, the coniln with a pair of trucks, of a pair inof, supported by the vehicle l thereof, the lower portie movers lyingbelow 'the n f icks, a generato:

aove each trucl d ng on the center vehicle, and an operative connectionfrom each prime mover to a generator.

'9. In an electric vehicle, the combination withV a pair of trucks, ofva pair of longitudinally extending prime movers supported by thevehicle between, the trucks thereof,

the driving shafts of the prime movers lying on opposite sides of thecenter line of lthe vehicle and below the upper portions its center linelying above'the center line of the vehicle, and an operative connectionfrom the driving shaft of each prime mover upward and sidewise totheshaft of-a genex erator.

.10. In an electric vehicle, the combination y and secured to thecentral depressed portions of said truss members, a prime mover mountedupon and secured to said base member, and a generator operativelyconnected- 'to the prime mover.

12. In an electric vehicle, the combination of a pair of oppositelydisposed side frame members, a base member mounted between and securedto the frame members, a plurality of crosswise extending reinforcingwebs in said base member, journals in said webs, removable sections inthe lower portions of the webs and beneath the journals, a crank shaftmounted in and working in the journals, a prime mover supported by thebase member and operating on said crank shaft, and a generatoroperatively connected to the crank shaft.

13. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a pair of oppositelydisposed side frame members, of a central base member mounted betweenand secured to the central portions of the frame members, a pair ofprime movers mounted upon and secured to said base members, other basemembers mounted between and secured -to the end portions of the framemembers, a generator mounted -upon and secured to each of said lastnamed base members, andan operative connection from each prime mover togenerator.

1 e combinaa pair o e motors rrom eac ae vehicie .oe-

'90 bers, of a base member mounted between` 15. In an electric vehicle,the combination of an engine base member, a generator .base memberlocated adjacent to ea'ch end thereof, longitudinally extending trussmembers mounted on each generator base member,

two sets of engine cylinders and crank shafts. connected to the enginebase member, and an operative ,connection from each crank shaft to thecorresponding generator.

16. In an electric vehicle, the combination of an engine base member, agenerator base memberadjacent to one end ,of the same, rigid sidemembers -having their central portions rigidly connected to the sides ofthe engine base member and having their end portions. rigidly connectedto the generator -idase member, and constituting inl conjunction withthe engine base member and the generator base member a rigidunder-:traming for the vehicle, a generator mounted on the generatorbase member, engine cylinders anda crank shaft connected to the enginebase member, and an operative connection from the crankshaft to thegenerator.

17. In an electric vehicle, the combination of an engine basemember ofWidth substantially equal to the width of the vehicle, gen'- erator basemembers Yof width substantially equal to the width of the vehicle andmount- 'ed adjacent'to'the ends of the engine-base member, connectingmembers having their lower edges of substantially truss shapehavingfltheir central portions rigidly lconnected to the sides of theengine base member and having'their end portions rigidly connected tothe sides ofthe generator b'ase members, and, constituting inconjunction with the engine base member and the gen' erator base membersa rigid under-framing, a generator mounted on each generator basemember, two pairs of engine cylinders connected to the engine basemember, two crank shafts connected to the engine base mem-- ber, and anoperative connection from each crank shaft to the'correspondinggenerator.

18. In an electric vehicle, the combination of an engine base member, alongitudinally extending crank shaft beneath the same, bearing'blockssupporting the crank shaft and connected to the under portion Votl thebase member, engine cylinders con' nected to the upper portion of theengine base member, a generator base member adjacent to one end ot theengine base member, a generator mounted thereon, and a longitudinallyextending supporting member on each side of the vehicle, each supportingmember being rigidly connected erator base member, whereby the engineand generator base members and the supporting members togetherconstitute a rigid underframing for the vehicle.

19. In an electric vehicle, the combination of an engine base member, a.pair of longitudinally extending crank shafts beneath y the same,bearing blocks mounted beneath the base member and carrying the crankshaft, engine cylinders connected to the upper portion of the enginebase member, a generator base member adjacent to each end of the enginebase member, a longitudinally extending connecting member on each sideof the vehicle, each connecting member being rigidly secured to theengine base member and both of the generator base members, whereby allof the base members and the connecting members together constitute arigid under-framing for the vehicle, a generator mounted on eachgenerator base member, and :inoperative connection from each crank shaftto the corresponding generator.v f

20. An under-framing for an electric vehicle comprising an engine basemember of width substantially equal tothe width of the vehicle, agenerator base member adjacent to each end of the enginf, base member,each generator basemember being 'of width substantially equal to thewidth of the vehicle, and a longitudinally extending supporting me er oneach side of the ve` hicle, leach supporting member having its centralportion rigidly connected to the engine base member and ,having its endportions rigidly connected to the generatorbase members. l l y '21. Anunder-framing for an electric vehicle comprising an engine base member,a generator base member adjacent to each end of the same, and alongitudinally extending supporting member on each side'of the vehicle,each supporting .member having its lower edge of truss shapedlformation, and

having its central portion rigidly connected to the engine base memberand its end por-v tions rigidly connected to the generator base members.y

22. An under-framing for an electric vehicle comprising an engine basemember having crank shaft bearing sockets in its lower face, a generatorbase member adjacent to each en d of the engine base member, and alongitudinallyA extending supporting member on each side of the vehicle,each supporting member having its central portionrigidly connected tothe engine base member and having its end portions rigidly connected tothe generator base members. 23. An under-framing for an electric vehiclecomprising an engine base member of substantially box-like formationhaving a plurality of downwardly depending cross- 1,113,923 v e lf7 Wiseextending web members, aerank shaft` the engine base member and to eachgenbearing socket in the lower face ofeach f erator base member. saidWebs, a. generator base member Yadjacent toeachlend' of the engine basemember,

JOSEPH H. AMES.

` 5 and :i longitudinelyextending connecting Witnesses: 4 i i member oneach side of; the framing; each THOMAS A. BANNING,J1-., I connectingmember lbeingrigidly joined to FRANCES M. FROST.

